What did you pay for you project truck?

[Schmoldt]

A little background i'm a 17 year old high schooler, I was saving up for a c10 had around 2700 dollars saved up then my dads 99 silverado (my daily driver) died and we got a new truck I have to pay him back so that went all the money I Had saved for a truck. Its a 05 f150 5.4 4x4 superb if anyone cares that we paid 8200 for. I plan on paying most of the truck off this summer and the rest during my senior year. I have wanted a c10 for a long time and I'm planning on driving down south in around a year and a half. My grandma has said she will pay for the trip i.e. gas, hotel, trailer rental, because my grandpa was very into old cars and trucks. My main questions are What did people pay for their projects ( I know this can vary a TON)? And what state has the best c10's in your minds? I live in Wisconsin and not many nice rust free trucks come up for sale for a reasonable price. Thanks for and insight in advanced. Any other tips would be much appreciated.

[Schmoldt]

Also I'm going to college after high school incase any one is wondering i plan on going to a local tech college for electro mechanical engineering. And I'm going to work 2nd shift full time and go to school. My schooling will be mostly paid for however.

[1968aj]

I would think the best rust free states would be California, Arizona, new mexico good hunting.

[blongdon]

I paid $2400 for my 67 K10. Took me a year of hunting to find one that was mostly 67 bits(many I found we a mix after all these years), ran, and was not a rust bucket. Both sides are straight and it drives fine. Needs rocker on driver side and new passenger side wheel well(battery leak at some point in the past).
My advice is be patient and keep your eyes open. If you have time I would almost bet you can find something close to you that meets your criteria and hopefully price. There is always a few good ones out there...just takes a while to find them.
Only one data point but hope that gives you an idea.

[67swb72klb]

Originally Posted by blongdon

I paid $2400 for my 67 K10. Took me a year of hunting to find one that was mostly 67 bits(many I found we a mix after all these years), ran, and was not a rust bucket. Both sides are straight and it drives fine. Needs rocker on driver side and new passenger side wheel well(battery leak at some point in the past).
My advice is be patient and keep your eyes open. If you have time I would almost bet you can find something close to you that meets your criteria and hopefully price. There is always a few good ones out there...just takes a while to find them.
Only one data point but hope that gives you an idea.

You stole that truck great deal!

[hugger6933]

Well I'll start I have three not counting the one that came in today I think I may sell it. The 68 GMC was a big block 3/4 ton but now it is a small block T400 buddy buckets, speed warning, with air ,power steering, power brakes wood bed I have added tilt and got an extra set of buckets and because it had a Tommy gate on it the tail gate was in the bed a new take off. I traded a hard bed cover for it that I bought on a wrecked truck that I had to paint [with some left over paint ]actual cash in that truck about $200.
Next one is a 70 model Chevrolet I bought at the salvage sale I go to it had a few dents but I drove it 100 miles home[ on brand new michelens]with sales fees and all $1050. The last one is a 70 short I bought out of the newspaper from the local school dist. It was bought new by them and driven by the bus maintenance manager right before he retired he had the tech guys [mechanics they were called back then] put in the last bus crate 327 engine he had bought. It had about 1000 to 1200 miles on it they told me. I drove it to my shop. It may have the best steel floor I've seen in 20 years. I gave $440 for it
the one I bought yesterday I got at the sale it is a C30 and runs and drives good but I'm not saying the money cause I may sell it . It is more than any other. Good luck to you and if you need any help I'd be glad to try to answer any questions you may have just holler. Jim

[Mock1]

How far south you talkin?
Arkansas south, or Florida south? Theres a lot of "south" for you pal.
Around these parts, they are goin for different prices for the various leves of rust you are lookin for. Swiss cheese will fetch anywhere from $500-$1000 for a almost whole truck. If it has an engine and trans add another $400-$500. If engine and trans actually work add another $500. If its not too bad you might be able to get it for $2500-$3K.
Problem with the south is the humidity and moisture NEVER leaves here, and most stuff from florida is in worse shape cause of the salt air.
Best bet is to go from Texas, to So.Cal, south of Oklahoma if your pocket aint that deep.

[Salpezz]

Paid $4100 in April of 2013. Had original steel wheels with center caps. Engine was fresh with less than 300 miles on the rebuild. Previous owner blew the original 402 and dropped in a 350 that was stroked, had ported and polished heads, and had a high lift cam. The truck was solid but had some issues. 1st it had ****ty side pipes that dumped right in front of the rear wheels and filled the cab with exhaust. 2nd it desperately needed headers. The previous owner took the headers from the 402, cut and welded them to fit the 350... What a moron. 3rd the cab was full of Bondo that was chipping out from under the rear window and above the gas cap. After sandblasting we found that the roof of the cab had been cut under the rear window and on the A pillars next to the windshield because a tree fell on it back in the day. 4th the truck was meant to go fast, it had a 402 from the factory and now a built 350 pushing 365 horse. It needed wheels to match how fast it actually was. So we put torq thrust d wheels and cooper cobra raised white letter tires on her. With all the things that I mentioned I'm into her for about $7,000 between wheels and tires, exhaust, headers and a new carburetor. I'm in the process of restoring right now and it is in a million pieces in my garage and at the paint shop. I hope this helps with your search


Ps. I have a 71 c10 Shortbed Stepside with a 350 that is for sale

[Schmoldt]

How ever far. Engine isn't a big deal plan on putting a 5.3 in or a ls1. i want clean as possible little to no rust.

[Schmoldt]

I Think it would be cool if my dad and I drove down to get it and if it drives, ill drive it back all the way or until it dies and put it on a trailer but it all depends on what i find.

[GASoline71]

I bought this 1972 GMC C1500 Super Custom for $800 bucks. It was sitting in a field. I brought a long 5 gallons of gas, some spark plug wires, a battery, jumper cables, portable air compressor, a weed eater ( to knock down all the grass around it) and some tools... drove it home that same day 100 miles to where you see it parked in this pic at my house.



After blowing all the rat crap off of the intake manifold, I pulled it into my tiny garage and tore it completely apart for the rebuild.

Gary

[Schmoldt]

I have also started buying my own tools. Some of you may have seen this on garage journal http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=253543 my dad has everything i need to work on a truck but I like having my own stuff!

[briank]

Colorado, Wyoming and Montana may do you well also.

[69chevy lwb]

I agree with the Wyoming statement. Here's my trucks. I paid 300 for the green 69 and 200 for the 68.

[HeavyD]

I paid 200 for my basket case off a board member, and it is still sitting. You have the right idea, buy the best truck you can find, it will save you a ton of time and expense. I used to buy 5 litres from Vegas all the time, the road trips are fun and not a big deal at all.

[don t. - 72gmc]

I don't have the skills to do most body work.

I paid $1500 for a rust bucket 72. Another $500 for an entire brake job.
It lasted another 8 years before the rust got too bad.

About 7 years ago, I bought a 70 survivor from Madison, Wi. for $5K.
Yep, it was a Ca & Az truck for most of it's life.
Until last fall, only $'s spent was on maintenance items.
It now needs an entire brake job that will get done once it warms up a bit.

Buy a truck w/the best body you can afford.

Twice/year, in Jefferson Wi. county fairgrounds, a car club holds swap meets.
Same people put on a meet in Elkhorn as well.
If you have the time....go to Jefferson.
Disclaimer....I am in no way connected to Madison Classics car club, but do attend their swap meets on a regular basis.

HTH...Good luck...don t. ...

[Lees68GMC]

Here's what it looked like on Day One for $4000.00 and now today

There are lots of these trucks around here, the trick is finding the right one with as few owners as possible and in good shape, even though this is Arizona there are still nasty rust buckets every where here too.

We're picky but willing to pay a little more for the "Right" trucks

[BlackedOut67shorty]

500 dollhairs

[michael bustamante]

shop shop shop!!
look for what you want and not just what you can get your hands on quickly.
i used to live in milwaukee so i know what the road salts will do to our old trucks
shop on cl down south like here.
and if you find one here in NM let me know and i can look at it and send you lots of pics. i love old chevys and will use about any excuse to go check one out.
my 67 custom cab long bed i paid 500.00 with a 250 the #1 cyl put a hole in the block
i had that 10 years then i ran across a helluva deal
67 short stepper, all original, all 67 stuff still on it. sat in a field for 12 years untouched. minimal rust. 700.00.

[leftybass209]

I payed 3k in El Paso for a 69 short fleet with a pristine rust free bed. Cab was gone but swapped it for 500 delivered for a rust free 71 when I moved back to California. All in $3500. Of course that's not counting the thousands I've put into new parts so far.

[jackyl9999]

http://http://jonesboro.craigslist.org/cto/4848860336.html

http://jonesboro.craigslist.org/cto/4857746202.html

http://jonesboro.craigslist.org/cto/4889287076.html

Just a quick search of my local craigslist. This will give you a idea of what is out there. These are all located in Arkansas. I paid 2900 for my 70 Swb GMC in 2001. It was running and driving.

[DarkFlounder]

I paid $4k for my 72 K2500 4x4. Cab has some rust (floor, rockers), bed is toast and has to be outright replaced. But, 350 was a crate motor with less than 20k, TH400 was a crate trans with less than 10k. Needs a lot of work, but it's been a reliable daily driver since I got it in November.

[67 cst swb]

I paid $600.00 for my 67 CST (project) back in 1998.
Funny part is... I showed up with a trailer and a come-a-long to winch it up on the trailer and about 40 foot of chain. I backed up kinda close to it and as I got everything all laid out to get started.
The guy came out of his shop just laughing. Then he said... "Hey, I put a battery in it, why don't you just drive it onto the trailer"
Did I feel dumb or what...

[specialtyretail]

Start with the best body you can possibly afford, that is where the real money/aggrivation comes in to play.

[JointTech]

i paid $2k for mine a couple years ago. It ran, drove and was tagged. Although a beater piece of crap. Recently I havent seen anything similar for under $3500 around here. Of course if I knew I was going to do a complete frame off I would have gotten something non running and cheaper I suspect.